10.5880/ICDP.5069.001 Heubeck, Christoph Christoph Heubeck 0000-0002-2632-2644 Department of Geosciences, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Beukes, Nic Nic Beukes deceased Jan. 9, 2023 de Kock, Michiel Michiel de Kock 0000-0002-5036-3438 Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa Homann, Martin Martin Homann 0000-0001-5886-0677 Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK Javaux, Emmanuelle J. Emmanuelle J. Javaux 0000-0002-5272-7610 Early Life Traces & Evolution-Astrobiology, Liège, Belgique Kakegawa, Takeshi Takeshi Kakegawa 0000-0003-1627-1385 Geosciences Building, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai City, Japan Lalonde, Stefan Stefan Lalonde 0000-0003-1318-2280 UMR 6538 Laboratoire Géosciences Océan, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Brest, France Mason, Paul Paul Mason 0000-0001-7569-5917 Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Mashele, Phumelele Phumelele Mashele 0000-0002-1864-3042 Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Paprika, Dora Dora Paprika 0000-0001-5040-9830 Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg The MSA Group, Henley House, Greenacres Office Rippon, Chris Chris Rippon 10 Amethys Street, Nelspruit, South Africa Tice, Mike Mike Tice 0000-0003-2560-1702 Department of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Tucker, Rodney Rodney Tucker Wildlife Estate, Hoedspruit 1380, Limpopo, South Africa Tucker, Ryan Ryan Tucker Wildlife Estate, Hoedspruit 1380, Limpopo, South Africa Ndazamo, Victor Victor Ndazamo Barberton Mines (Pty.) Ltd., Barberton, South Africa Christianson, Astrid Astrid Christianson Barberton Community Tourism, Barberton, South Africa Kunkel, Cindy Cindy Kunkel 0000-0003-0443-5661 GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany GFZ Data Services 2024 Africa South Africa Barberton Early Life Ecology Greenstone Belt Moodies ocean and atmosphere oxygen ICDP International Continental Scientific Drilling Programme EARTH SCIENCE > PALEOCLIMATE > LAND RECORDS > BOREHOLES EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOCHEMISTRY > GEOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES Precambrian > Archean Heubeck, Christoph Department of Geosciences, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany ICDP data and sample management team GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany 2025-09-15/2 Dataset 10.5194/sd-33-129-2024 10.48440/ICDP.5069.001 10.48440/ICDP.5069.002 CC BY 4.0 All datasets provided in the operational dataset (Heubeck et al., 2024) of the ICDP project BASE (ICDP 5069) consist of metadata, data and/or images. Here, a summary of explanations of the tables, data and images exported from the database of the project (mDIS BASE) are given and are complemented by additional information on data from measurements done in the laboratory prior to the sampling party. Finally, the sampling data from the first two sampling parties are added. Some basic definitions of identifiers used in ICDP, depths corrections and measurements are also introduced.

The BASE (Barberton Archean Surface Environments) scientific drilling project focused on recovering unweathered continuous core through strata of the Paleoarchean Moodies Group (ca. 3.2 Ga), central Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), South Africa. They comprise some of the oldest well-preserved sedimentary strata on Earth, deposited within only a few million years in alluvial, fluvial, coastal-deltaic, tidal, and prodeltaic settings; they represent a very-high-resolution record of Paleoarchean surface conditions and processes. Moodies Group strata consist of polymict conglomerates, widespread quartzose, lithic and arkosic sandstones, siltstones, shales, and rare BIFs and jaspilites, interbedded with tuffs and several thin lavas. This report describes operations from preparations to the sampling workshop and complements the related scientific report.

Eight inclined boreholes between 280 and 495 m length, drilled during November 2021 through July 2022, obtained a total of 2903 m of curated core of variable quality through steeply to subvertically dipping, in part overturned stratigraphic sections. All drilling objectives were reached. Boreholes encountered a variety of conglomerates, diverse and abundant, mostly tuffaceous sandstones, rhythmically laminated shale-siltstone and banded-iron formations, and several horizons of early-diagenetic sulfate concretions. Oxidative weathering reached far deeper than expected; fracturing was more intense, and BIFs and jaspilites were thicker than anticipated. Two km-long mine adits and a water tunnel, traversing four thick stratigraphic sections within the upper Moodies Group in the central BGB, were also sampled. All boreholes were logged by geophysical instruments. Core was processed (oriented, slabbed, photographed, described, and archived) in a large, publicly accessible hall in downtown Barberton. An exhibition provided background explanations for visitors and related the drilling objectives to the recently established Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site. A substantial education, outreach and publicity program addressed the information needs of the local population and of local and regional stakeholders.

Borehole 5069_1_A (depth: 497 m) Borehole 5069_2_A (depth: 368 m) Borehole 5069_3_A (depth: 280 m) Borehole 5069_4_A (depth: 340 m) Borehole 5069_4_B (depth: 355 m) Borehole 5069_4_C (depth: 352 m) Borehole 5069_5_A (depth: 451 m) Borehole 5069_5_B (depth: 490 m)